PORTLAND, Maine — A massive federal immigration enforcement surge, officially dubbed “Operation Catch of the Day,” has sent shockwaves through Maine this week as federal agents descend on Portland, Lewiston, and surrounding communities.
While the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) maintains the operation is a precision strike against high-level criminals, local leaders and civil rights advocates are condemning what they describe as a “paramilitary” approach that threatens constitutional protections.
Federal Surge and “The Worst of the Worst”
On Wednesday, January 21, 2026, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin confirmed that ICE operations had intensified across the state. Federal officials have identified approximately 1,400 targets in Maine.
As of today, at least 50 arrests have been confirmed. DHS cited several high-profile detentions to justify the surge, including:
- A Sudanese man convicted of aggravated assault and false imprisonment.
- An Ethiopian woman with a conviction for cocaine possession and assault.
- A Guatemalan man convicted of operating under the influence.
“Governor Mills and her fellow sanctuary politicians have made it clear they would rather stand with criminal illegal aliens than protect law-abiding citizens,” McLaughlin stated.
Controversial Tactics: Masked Agents and Forced Entry
The operation has been marked by aggressive tactics that have left neighborhoods on edge. In Portland’s Parkside and Lewiston’s downtown, residents reported seeing masked agents in unmarked vehicles.
A major flashpoint has emerged following the leak of an internal ICE memorandum. The document reveals a policy shift allowing agents to use administrative warrants to justify forcible entry into private homes—a move legal experts say directly violates the Fourth Amendment.
“These masked men with no regard for the rule of law are causing long-term damage to our state,” said Lewiston Mayor Carl Sheline. “Lewiston stands for the dignity of all people who call Maine home.”
Local Resistance and School Lockouts
The atmosphere of fear led to brief lockouts at Deering High School and Lincoln Middle School in Portland on Tuesday after ICE activity was reported nearby.
In a bold act of state-level resistance, Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows has paused the issuance of undercover license plates to federal agencies, citing concerns that they are being used for “lawless purposes.” Governor Janet Mills has also reiterated that while Maine follows the law, “terror and intimidation” have no place in the state’s enforcement strategy.
Community Impact
Beyond the stated “criminal” targets, reports have surfaced of students and asylum seekers being swept up in the dragnet:
- An 18-year-old USM student was reportedly detained in Westbrook.
- A Portland resident from Angola was arrested during a routine check-in at the Scarborough ICE field office.
As “Operation Catch of the Day” enters its third day, community organizers are advising residents of their rights and establishing “rapid response” networks to monitor federal activity.